Clasp-locker for shoes



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

' W.-L. JUDS0N.

CLASP LOCKER FORSH-OES'.

, Patented Mar. 31, 1896.-

ANDREW EGHHMM. FHOTO'UTHQWASHINGIONP (No Model.

9m t. 6 6 h s .W e 8 h s 2 N 0 S D U L CLASP LOCKER FOR SHOES.

No. 557,208. Patente -Mansl, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VHITCOMB L. JUDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE-UNIVERSAL FASTENER COMPANY, OF

ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,208, dated March31, 1896.

Application filed October 2, 1894. Serial No. 524,734. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, WHITCOMB L. J UDSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClasp-Lockers for Shoes, 850. and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to devices for detachably connecting the flaps ofshoes or other articles.

To this end my invention consists in the novel features of constructionhereinafter fully described, and defined in the claims.

The locker herein described was especially designed for use with theparticular forms of coupling devices shown and claimed in a companionapplication, filed by me of date October 2, 1894, under Serial No.524,733.

The locker herein disclosed, as well as the coupling devices and theadjustable connection of the same to the flaps of the shoes, are withinthe generic claims contained in my former patents of date August 29,1893, and numbered, respectively, 504,037 and 504,038.

My present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein, like letters referring to like parts-- Figure 1 is aperspective view looking from the front, showing the shoe with my devicein working position thereon, the flaps being partly opened. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the locker as about to pass off from thechains, the links of which have been coupled together thereby. Fig. 3 isa plan view of the upper ends of the chains as fastened together by thedevice. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locker and chains, with the lockerin position to enter the chains and engage the same. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of therlocker, with the parts in the same position as Fig. 4,in full lines, and in the opposite or clamping position in dotted lines;and Figs. 6 and 7 are details in plan of the male and female links ofthe chains laid out fiatwise with their inner faces upward.

A represents the body of the shoe, and a represents the flap portions ofthe same,which are shown as provided with ordinary eyelets aLacing-stigings b adjustably connect to the said flaps a series of links0, the said strings passing through the flap-eyelets a and througheyelets c in said link. The links 0 of each chain are pivotallyconnected at their ends by joints 0 The links 0 of one chain areprovided each with a hook-like projection 0 which engages over the upperinner edge or cross-bar portion 0 on the links of the opposite chainwhen the parts are in their coupled position. It will be convenient tocall the links having the hook-like projections c the male links and tocall the links having the bars 0 the female links. The female links arealso provided with straight projections 0 The parts 0 and a projecttoward each other from the facing links of the two chains, in therespective planes of the respective joints 0 connecting the adjacentlinks of the respective chains. Hence the said joints 0 of the twochainsdo not lie in exactly the same transverse line, but are slightlyoffset with respect to each other; and when the said links are broughttogether, supposing the action to be begun at the lowermost pair offacing links and continued upward, pair after pair in succession, thehooks c from the male links will turn in to the open upward ends of thefemale links and will engage with the bars 0 and when thus coupled theprojection 0 will overlap the backs of the hooks c and hold the saidcoupled parts 0 and c in engagement with each otheiyagainst strain ormovement in all directions, as long as the topmost or head pair of linksare fastened together. Otherwise stated, the parts 0 and c on the facinglinks of the two chains are coupling parts, which become locked in theircoupled position by the parts 0 on the female members of the nextadjacent headward pair of links. Hence when the links of the two chainshave been coupled together and the head links thereof fastened in theircoupled position the chains and the shoe-flaps will be securely united,but in such a manner that if the head links be unfastened the wholeseries of links may be uncoupled with a single instantaneous action bypulling apart the two chains or flaps in the same way as one would tearapart two pieces of cloth or paper.

The parts of the chains so far described in detail are identical inconstruction and action with one species of chains disclosed in mycompanion case.

Directing attention now especially to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the locker iscomposed of a bottom plate d, upper plate cl, pivot-lugs d and 1 withpivot-pin d pivotally connecting the said plates cl and cl intermediatetheir eX- tremities, an angular block d facing marginal flanges d 011the jaw portions of said plates, cam-channels d formed by the partsabove described, which are divergent at their upper portions from thepoint of the angular block (1 and are convergent and open into eachother at their lower portions, so as to form a common channel or passagebelow the said block, and a finger-pull (1 having camsurfaces (1 and dfor operating the locker, as will presently more fully appear.

Having regard to the action of the locker (Z (Z, &c.,when the parts arein the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 the top plate d will beoperated upon by the cam-surface d of the finger-pull (Z and the lowerend of the plate (1 will be opened or spread apart from the lower platecl, and hence a comparatively large opening will be provided between thejaws of the plates, which will permit the chains to be entered sidewiseinto the cam-channels (Z by introducing the locker from above at thecrotch or junction-point of the two chains, as shown in Fig. 4. By thenthrowing the finger-pull (1 over into its pulling position, or in linewith the body of the device, the cam-surface (Z will act on the plate(1, and the parts of the locker will be in the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 5. The jaw portions of the plates d cl will thereby beheld closed to their limit, and the chains will be held within thecam-channels (Z By then pulling the locker upward on the chains thefacing links of the two chains will be coupled togetherunder the cammingaction of the locker, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The top of the angular block (Z acts as a stop to limit the closingmovement of the plate (1, thereby insuring clearance between the flanges(Z for the lacing-strings b.

The head-links of the chains, when this form of locker is employed forcontinued use by the wearer, must be provided with some form offastening device for holding the chains in their coupled position. Asherein shown, one of the head-links is provided with a pivoted detent f,having an eye f adapted to engage with an end stud f on the other link,and is also provided with a projecting cam-surface f adapted to be actedupon by the locker in passing oif from the head-links of the chains, asshown in Fig. 3. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be obvious thatthere is sufiicient clearance in the common part of the cam-channels (Zbelow the angular block cl to permit the detent f to be turned over soas to engage its eye f with the head f on the other link under thecamming action of the locker before the locker passes entirely off fromthe chains.

lVhen it is desired to uneouple the chains, all that is necessary is tothrow the detent f, or other lockin g device, into its open position andpull apart the two chains, when all the links will become uncoupled insuccession with an instantaneous action. This opening or uncouplingmovement of the chains may be accomplished as quickly as a chain-stitchthread-seam can be unraveled.

In case the locker (l (1 herein described is to be employed simply as atool for the manufacturers use to effect the first coupling of thechains, in order to apply a permanent slider of the kind shown in mycompanion application, a fastening device is not required on thehead-links of the chains, inasmuch as that function is served by thepermanent slider itself when secured in its uppermost position, whichmay be provided for in any suitable way. This is the chief use for whichthis locker was intended.

It will of course be understood that this locker is equally applicableto chains having the other species of links disclosed in my companioncase or to any other form of coupling-links within the generic idea ofthe inventions disclosed in my companion case and my prior patentshereinbefore identified.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. The coupling-chains composed each of the links 0 pivotally connectedby the end joints 0 the links of one of which chains have male couplingparts 0 and the links of the other of which chains have female couplingparts 0 engageable by said parts 0 and are also provided with the locking parts 0'' for lapping and locking the said parts 0 and c in theircoupled positions, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a pair of sidewisecoupling chains,of a lockerhaving cam-channels through which the chains pass, for coupling thechains under the movement of the locker, and composed of a pair ofplates or parts which open and close with respect to each other, forpermitting the sidewise entrance of said chains into said cam-channels,substantially as described.

3. The combination with a pair of chains having coupling parts on theirfacing links, of a cam-action locker comprising a pair of pivotallyconnected plates having facing flanges on their jaw portions, and anangular block fixed to one of said plates and facing the other platewith its point downward,which parts cooperate to form a pair ofcam-channels which are convergent and opening together at their lowerportions, and divergent at their upper portions, and which will permit asidewise entrance of the chains into said cam-channels, when the platesare open, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a pair of sidewisecoupling chains, of alockerhavingcam-channels through which the chains pass for coupling thesame under the movement of the locker, which locker is composed of apair of plates or parts which open and close in respect to each other,for permitting the side- Wise entrance of said chains into saidcamchannels, and a cam operative, at will, to throw said plates intotheir open or closed position, substantially as described.

5. The locker comprising the pivotallyconnected plates d, d having theflanges d, and the angular block (1 fixed to one of said plates andfacing the other thereof with its I point downward, which partscooperate to form the cam-channels 1 and the finger-pull 15 In testimonywhereof I affix my signature 2o in presence of two witnesses.

WHITCOMB L. JUDSON.

Witnesses:

J AS. F. WILLIAMSON, FRANK D. MERCHANT.

